Is there a simple level booster to increase volume from a weak audio interface?

Is it the komplete audio interface you're using? I just had a look at the page on NI's site and on the little hover over thing, for the outputs it mentions connecting them to active speakers or external equipment. This indicates that it doesn't have an internal amplifier and is sending line level output, which would explain why it's quiet. So the solution would probably be to put an amplifier in the chain.

Depending on what you're connecting to the interface a a pre-amp unit will do the trick.

There are many types to choose from according to your needs.


You can also get software pre-amp plugins which will boost the input signal.

What is the line out of the NI interface hooked up to? For the purpose of making a suggestion, I'm going to assume the answer is powered speakers. It sounds (pun unavoidable) like the powered speakers expect a pro level (+4 DBu nominal) input and the NI is delivering a consumer level (-10 DBV) output. Two channel USB interfaces are relatively cheap and there are a lot of them to chose from (and a number of threads on VI-Control comparing them). Check the specs of your speakers and find an interface with a matching output level. Also, if the speakers have balanced inputs, get an interface with balanced outputs.

Adding a preamp in between the existing units is asking for unnecessary trouble in the form of more cables and more things to go wrong.

We might be able to offer more detailed guidance if we knew the model numbers of the interface and powered speakers.

rrichard63 said:

What is the line out of the NI interface hooked up to? For the purpose of making a suggestion, I'm going to assume the answer is powered speakers. It sounds (pun unavoidable) like the powered speakers expect a pro level (+4 DBu nominal) input and the NI is delivering a consumer level (-10 DBV) output.

Click to expand...

Yes, that's exactly the situation. I have a whole bunch of audio interfaces (NI Komplete, MAudio, Apogee Duet and Apogee Boom), feeding a bunch of different powered monitors of various brands - Adams, JBL and KRK. (My room is old school, though, with an SSL Big Six feeding a Crown DC300A into Urei 813s. This room isn't the problem, since the Big Six spits out +4, plus the Crown has power for days.)

The NI and MAudio interfaces are weak, the Apogees are good. (Probably -10 versus +4, as you suggested.) Interestingly, the original NI Komplete interface spit out a hotter signal. It's the version 2 ones that are the problem. (It's mostly while editing samples, as opposed to making music, where you wish that volume knob could go higher.)

The problem is that I prefer the NI interfaces, except for the low level. I hate the breakout cable with the Duet, and the Boom has its own little annoyances. (At NAMM, those issues are especially annoying, compounded by needing the extra dbs, so that's a place where the NI or MAudio is a total no go.) I'm tired of experimenting with interfaces, so I just want to add a small booster after the NI's output and be done with it. It's not ideal, of course, but I can deal with the extra 12" cable.

Not that I don't appreciate the advice, but just so we're all on the same page here ... I've been doing this a while, so I already understand what audio interfaces are and what they do.

Mike Greene said:

Yes, that's exactly the situation. I have a whole bunch of audio interfaces (NI Komplete, MAudio, Apogee Duet and Apogee Boom), feeding a bunch of different powered monitors of various brands - Adams, JBL and KRK. (My room is old school, though, with an SSL Big Six feeding a Crown DC300A into Urei 813s. This room isn't the problem, since the Big Six spits out +4, plus the Crown has power for days.)

Click to expand...

I'm assuming based on this description you run all of them as an aggregate device? This creates its own host of issues and clock problems which is a story for another thread, but with the nice monitors you have and necessary routing requirements, why not consolidate everything into a higher-end rackmount interface which allows for greater I/O? One central interface with a great clock and lots of headroom. Fewer headaches to deal with. RME, Apogee, UA, etc... Not all interfaces are rated at the same level for I/O so it's worth looking into ones which would satisfy both higher input and higher output dB.

~sigh~

I think something like this would work Mike- https://www.radialeng.com/product/j4

There's also some stuff like this in the hifi world- https://doukaudio.com/products/douk...plifier-audio-preamp-20db-gain-volume-control

Alternatively, a monitor controller like a Mackie Big Knob or Drawmer would work.

The 4th option is to not muck about with NI or Apogee nonsense and get a better interface

Mike Greene said:

Some audio interfaces have very weak outputs (I'm looking at you, NI!), so it would be nice if there were a simple little device that did nothing other than raise a stereo input by 10db, and send that to a stereo output.

I don't even need a knob for it, since I already have a knob on the audio interface. (Which would be nice to finally not have it cranked all the way up!) All this box needs are a couple quarter inch jacks for input (heck, I'd even settle for RCA), and a couple quarter inch outs. USB powered would be ideal, so I don't have to have a big wall wart.

Does such a thing exist?

Click to expand...

Cloudlifter or Royer dbooster. I think that’s what you are looking for…

Edit: Nevermind. I just saw you are trying to insert it on the output side of things. thought you were trying to add some gain on the way in. Maybe the mackie big knob will do the trick?

With the low noise floor that’s available nowadays why don’t you just boost the signal after the recording process?
In Studio One you can setup the gain plugins directly into the input and in other DAWs this can be done with some routing.